Thresher Athletics Hall of Fame
Brent Martens made an immediate impact on the Bethel Football program as soon as he stepped foot on the field. Earning the starting quarterback job for the first game of his freshman career, Martens started all but three games of his four-year career (due to injury) from 1997-2000. He was able to rack up the yardage through the air, and on the ground. The dual-threat quarterback exploited every defense he came across, and helped Bethel to an 8-2 record his senior year. As a freshman, Martens was named All-KCAC Second Team as a quarterback, and capped off his senior season as the KCAC Offensive Player of the Year, as well as the All-KCAC First Team Quarterback. Martens left Bethel holding 11 individual football school records, and currently has seven to his name. A few of these include most passing completions in a career (523), most passing yards in a career (6,584), most total offensive yards in a season and career (2,313, and 8,306, respectively), as well as holding the school record for most rushing yards in a single game (343 vs Ottawa in 1999). Martens was also a track athlete, and his 4x400 relay team he was a part of still holds the school record (3:18.69). A two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete, Martens left a lasting impact on and off the field that will not be forgotten at Bethel.
